Uranyl complexes with 1,2-diols and tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohols

2,3-Dimethyl-2,3-butanediol (pinacol, L-1) reacted with uranyl nitrate and acetate hydrates to give [UO2 (NO3)(2)(L-1)]center dot L-1 (1.L-1) and [UO2(OAc)(2)(L-1)] (2), while 2,5-dimethyl-3,4-di-iso-propyl-3,4-hexanediol (L-2) was found to undergo a pinacol rearrangement into the ketone R3CCOR (R = iPr) in the presence of uranyl complexes. Treatment of [UO2(NO3)(0)(H2O)(2)]center dot 4H(2)O with tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol (L-3) and alpha,alpha-diter-tiobutyltetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol (L-4) led to the formation of [UO2(NO3)(2)(L-3)]center dot H2O (3 center dot H2O) and [UO2 (NO3)(2)(L-4)] (4). The crystal structures show that the metal coordination is similar in the 1,2-diol and ether-alcohol complexes but, in contrast to 1.L-1, 2 and 3 center dot H2O which form one- or two-dimensional hydrogen bonded assemblages, the structure of 4 is composed of discrete molecules, due to the lack of intermolecular hydrogen bonds. The crystal structure of uncomplexed L-2 is also described. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.